l'm losing MPG by the bucket load!!!

[D_O_U_G_I_E]

Right...
Over the past couple of months l've noticed that l don't seem to be getting anywhere near as many miles to a tank compared to perviously. l used to be able to get 300/320 miles to a full tank with our any issues, but all l've had out of the past couple of tanks is around the 250 mark!
What on earth could have this much effect on the fuel consumption??? l'm still driving the same way l've always driven, doing the same sort of trips at the same sort of pace.......yet l'm losing serious miles! Can anyone help?

 

[Cupra Ross]

Right...
Over the past couple of months l've noticed that l don't seem to be getting anywhere near as many miles to a tank compared to perviously. l used to be able to get 300/320 miles to a full tank with our any issues, but all l've had out of the past couple of tanks is around the 250 mark!
What on earth could have this much effect on the fuel consumption??? l'm still driving the same way l've always driven, doing the same sort of trips at the same sort of pace.......yet l'm losing serious miles! Can anyone help?

Some people find fuel consumption rises with colder weather, extra electrical loads for heater fan/lighting etc, yours seems a bit excessive though. Have you checked your exhaust and the condition of the plugs?

 

[godber225r]

When was your car last serviced?? Plugs, Airfilter,Fuel filter etc???
Try Redex for a couple of tanks and go on a long journey. See if that Brings the mpg up?

 

[Avant4me]

Defo the cold weather. mine has taken a big hit over the last couple of tanks

 

[D_O_U_G_I_E]

Cheers for the responses guys!

lt had a full service back in Spetember and hasn't done a great deal of miles since to warrant doing another

The cold weather thing does make sense l guess, but surely not to that sort of level!?

l'll pop some Redex type stuff in and see what that does and then look to do another service when there isn't 4 inchs of snow on the car!

 

[Gezz]

Check your temperature gauge is getting up the normal temperature, my thermostat failed so the car never got warm and was always running rich, MPG dropped from a usual 28-29mpg in winter to 26mpg. The temp gauge never really got any higher than 70, normal is 90 (needle pointing straight up)

Winter does make a difference though, but not as much as you're describing

 

[Avant4me]

Mine drops from 29-30 most of the year, down to 26 regularly when it really gets cold. Its just the physics of turbo engines and cold weather. Air is more dense so more fuel required!!

 

[andycupra]

cold weather wont help, but not to that extent. so it could be the engine is not warming up properly.

also check the fuel filter, under the car in front of the offside rear wheel. check this is not leaking.

 

[CupraMVR]

I would get a vag com check and see if there is any faults with the coolant temp sensor if that breaks down this can play hell with the engine not thinking its warm and over fuel it to get it up to temp.this dont bring up and ECU lights.. and check its a GREEN coolant temp sensor because if its black you want to get it changed anyways

 

[GrahameS]

I've been losing about 50-60 miles per Tank in my TDI the last couple of months.

It'll be down to the cold weather. Especially if you dont do particularly long journeys like me. My engine is barely warm when i get to work, and i'm averaging about 38 MPG per journey compared to 45 from just before it got cold.

If i go out on a warmer day it's back up at 45 MPG.

 

[Willie]

I wouldn't bother with redex or the like, if your using high octane petrol (like your supposed to) then redex won't make any difference as these petrols have lots of cleaning agents in them anyway.
Make sure your fuel filter is changed, its very cheap and not on a service schedule.
Do you feel your car is more responsive too?

 

[mister.c.]

Mate has a similar problem on a different car - even though his had been serviced, the service didn't include changing the air filter. When he did his own physical checks on his car including many of the ones suggested on this thread, then he found the air filter was fecked.

Even though its been serviced 5 months ago there's no substitute for doing the checks many have suggested.